There be no dragons

[CaptBoo]

Reading some of the more recent posts on this forum, I am reminded of a similar experience 8 or 9 years ago. I had sold my business and decided I wanted to go sailing, although the most sailing experience I had was with a Sunfish in high school. I joined a couple of sailing related forum sites. I had a lot to learn. Mixed in with the helpful posts that furthered the conversation and help enlighten me were the few that immediately responded by telling the helpful poster that they had no clue what they were talking about. It turns out that these posters had never actually done a whole lot more sailing than me. They were content to sit on the dock and tell other people how they should manage their lives. I ended up restoring a 25 year old boat and spending the next four years sailing the Caribbean in a 36' sailboat having the time of my life, sailing from Texas to Venezuela and back. Probably would still be there if MS had not entered my life.

My point is, you can either sit on the dock and pontificate or you can go sailing. Sure, actually crossing oceans is more dangerous, but it has greater rewards and as Reese Palley says, "There be no dragons."

CaptBoo

[CCSVIhusband]

BEST POST I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME ...

sure would love that Jimmy Buffett lifestyle ... and you're certainly right, they are sitting on the dock talking about sailing an awful lot.

[Coolcatcarrie]

I so agree and love your post! Lovely and positive! I for sure am a go getter u only have one life and I'm sure it must be pretty boring sitting on the dock! Carrie

[Cece]

How about if you're sitting on the dock only because your sailing date keeps getting pushed back due to things like IRBs and holding out for the preferred captain?

It's been hard watching all the other boats set out. It's especially hard when a few of them come back with their sails down. It's natural to seek patterns, I think there is a pattern that stents or hypercoaguability or no possible follow-up care or underdilation leads to rougher waters, but luck seems to play a role in it too. We all choose for ourselves, thank goodness, because I choose to go for it.

Your four years in the Caribbean sound like an amazing time, CaptBoo.

[CaptBoo]

Cece - There are always rough waters. The trick is to make sure that everything you control is shipshape and to your liking, and that preparation will be different for each of us. Once you have done everything you can, you wait for a fair wind and hope that Neptune has no immediate plans for you.

Boo

[Blaze]

So, let's set sail--but remember the life jackets.

Unfortunately, we in Canada don't even have any sailboats yet, so we're either traveling far out to sea with no anchor or we're still sitting on the dock watching others sail into the horizon.

[blossom]

captboo, smooth sailing to you and may the wind always be at your back.

[HappyPoet]

Ahoy, CaptBoo!

Climb aboard Beachcomber for a sail on the Queen of American Lakes in the beautiful Adirondacks.

[CuriousRobot]

There be no dragons! I like this...

[CaptBoo]

CCSVIhusband, my voyage was much different from Jimmy Buffet. He flys his WWII restored seaplane, his wife and children fly to meet him in a Lear jet and a professional crew gets his boat to the destination, where they play for a while, then all fly home. My wife and I both worked, she as a school teacher and me as a freelance yacht engineer and the boat was home. But that's for a different forum.

I sailed when scientific evidence showed the world wasn't flat and when anecdotal evidence said there were no dragons. I got angioed when scientific evidence showed that blood reflux in the brain was a bad thing and anecdotal evidence said it could help with MS symptoms.

Once the boat has sailed it becomes more difficult to hear those still sitting on the dock, and besides, since their perspective has not changed, they aren't saying anything new anyway.

[CCSVIhusband]

another great post ... I'm aware of Jimmy Buffet's situation (just saying it must be nice) I was referring to the weather, and being on boats ... my sailing is limited to a sunfish, hobey and 24 footer ... sure would like to get down there though ...

I actually met him a few years ago at a Margaritaville ... a rather unexpected and pleasant experience for a Parrothead just visiting for lunch off the cruise ship.